How to Manage Social Media for Small Business

In today's world, being on social media is a must-have for small businesses. But let's be real, trying to keep up with all the different platforms and what to post can be a lot to handle. Don't worry, we've got your back. This guide will show you how to manage your social media well, save time, and grow your business.

Why Every Small Business Needs a Social Media Plan

Before we get into the "how," let's talk about the "why." A good social media plan can be a game-changer for your business. Here's what it can do for you:

• Get Your Name Out There: Show up in front of more people so they recognize your products.
• Sell More Products or Services: Turn your followers into paying customers who buy from you.
• Connect With Your People: Build real relationships with your audience and turn them into loyal customers.
• Stay Ahead of the Competition: See what other sellers are doing and find ways to stand out.

Ready to jump in? Here's our step-by-step guide to getting good at social media.

Step 1: Figure Out What You Want to Achieve

You can't hit a target you can't see. Start by setting S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals.

What do you want to do?

• Bring in 10 new leads?
• Reach 5 sales?
• Get 500 new Instagram followers this month?

Once you have your goals, decide how you'll track your progress. You can look at things like how many people engage with your posts, how many people see them, or how many click on your product links.

Step 2: Know Your Audience

Who are you talking to? You need to know your audience really well. It helps to create profiles of your perfect customers.

Think about:

• The Basics: Age, where they live, etc.
• Their Interests: What are their hobbies? Where do they hang out online?
• Their Problems: What issues do they have that you can help solve?

When you know your audience, you can create posts they'll actually care about and find more people who want to buy your stuff. A good first step is to warm up your new social media accounts to build a strong foundation.

Step 3: Pick the Right Social Media Platforms

Don't spread yourself too thin. Start with the platforms where your people are already hanging out. Here's a quick look at the main ones:

• TikTok: The king of short videos, perfect for reaching a younger crowd
• Instagram Reels: Perfect for brands that use a lot of photos and videos
• YouTube Shorts: Best with combination of main channel
• Facebook: Great for building a community and reaching lots of different people
• X (formerly Twitter): Good for quick updates, news, and customer chats

Pick two or three to start with. Get good at those before you add more. If you're using Instagram or YouTube, make sure you know how to connect your Instagram and how to connect your YouTube accounts to get the most out of them.

Step 4: Create a Content Plan That Sells

Now for the fun part: making stuff to post! Your content should show off your products and get people excited to buy.

• Main Topics: Choose 3-5 topics that are all about what you sell.
• The 80/20 Rule: 80% of your posts should be helpful or fun. Only 20% should be about selling your stuff.
• Use a Posting Schedule: Plan your posts ahead of time. A schedule keeps you consistent and on top of things. You can use a simple calendar or a social media tool.

Step 5: Use Tools to Automate and Schedule

Managing social media takes a lot of time, but it doesn't have to. Using a tool like Taisly can save you a ton of time every week.

With a tool, you can figure out the best time to post to reach the most people.

With Taisly, you can:

• Schedule Posts: Plan your posts, and Taisly will share them for you at the best times.
• Auto-repost Content: Automatically share your posts across different platforms. For example, you can repost your YouTube Shorts to TikTok without lifting a finger.
• Handle Everything in One Spot: No more jumping between different apps.

Once you have your content ready, you can easily post your videos from YouTube to TikTok or repost your Instagram Reels to other platforms.

Step 6: Chat With Your Audience

Social media is a two-way street. Don't just post and ghost. Talk with your followers to build a strong community.

• Reply to comments and messages quickly.
• Run polls and ask questions.
• Encourage your fans to share their own content using your brand's hashtag.

Step 7: Check Your Results and Improve

What gets measured gets managed. Check your stats regularly to see what's working and what's not.

• Track Your Goals: Are you hitting your numbers?
• See What's Popular: Which posts get the most love?
• Try Different Things: Experiment with different kinds of posts, headlines, and posting times.

Use what you learn to tweak your plan and get better results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being Inconsistent: Not posting regularly can hurt your page.
• Ignoring Your Followers: Don't leave comments and questions hanging.
• Being Too Salesy: Nobody likes being sold to all the time. Offer value first.
• Having No Plan: "Winging it" isn't a good long-term strategy.

Take Your Social Media to the Next Level with Taisly

Managing social media for your small business is a marathon, not a sprint. But with a good plan and the right tools, you can get great results.

By setting clear goals, knowing your audience, creating content that sells, and using automation, you'll build a strong social media game that brings in more customers.

Ready to put your social media on autopilot? Get started with Taisly for free and see how easy it can be.